Professor Howard Spencer (left), Jamaica Foundation for Cardiac Disease (JFCD) founder, points out the uses of the echocardiogram machine to Jamaica Gasoline Retailers Association (JGRA) president Lloyd Brown (right) and Courtney Walsh's mother Joan Wollaston. The occasion was the launch of an Internet auction to raise funds to purchase a portable echocardiogram machine for use in the cardiac treatment programme at the University of the West Indies. It was held at the Pan Jamaica Building on Tuesday. JAMAICA FOUNDATION for Cardiac Disease (JFCD) on Tuesday launched an international charity auction for 'An evening with Courtney Walsh', to procure a portable Echocardiogram machine to be used in the cardiac treatment programme at the University of the West Indies.
Noting that cardiac disease has been identified worldwide as the leading killer among chronic diseases and the number of sufferers is rising rapidly in Jamaica, the machine which uses ultrasound waves to evaluate the heart's function is crucial in aiding treatment.
The auction will be aired from July 13 on eBay, a global auction web site. It will give admirers of Courtney Walsh and cricket lovers across the world the opportunity to bid for an evening with the bowler.
President of the Jamaica Gasoline Retailers Association (JGRA) Lloyd Brown said that the auction was "a turning point in fundraising and it is all due to the reach of modern information-communication technologies and their power to unite people with common interests across the world". He said that people have to find more creative ways to lend financial support to these institutions that play an important role in shaping our society.
The auction comes with the realisation that it is becoming more difficult to raise funds locally, making it necessary to use computers and the Internet to try out new ways of fundraising. At a fundraising ball held by the JGRA in May, US$20,000 was raised in the auctioning of Jamaican art, jewellery and a Caribbean Cruise among others.
The JFCD, a non-profit support organisation for heart disease treatment in Jamaica, has a mandate to promoting and supporting the delivery of high quality cardiac treatment in Jamaica.
They have established a web site at www.kasnet.com/jfcd with information on Walsh's career as well as details of the auction. This will also direct persons to the eBay site. Bidders will be invited to make bids directly there.
Meanwhile, the highest bidder, if originating outside the island, will be given complimentary transportation to Jamaica with an all expense paid week for two at an exclusive north coast resort. The highlight of the visit will be a private dinner hosted by Courtney Walsh.
